Charles f



C. F. KEMM.

BOMB.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 18. 1911.

1,3 lgfiwwn Patented Aug. 19,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IIJIYIIA C. F. KEMM.

BOMB.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT-18. 1911 I 1,3 1 8, 306, Patented Au 19, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. KEEN, OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, ASSIGNOB F ONE-THIRD TOBIBIAN PEREA, 0F ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

BOMB.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Aug. =19, 1919.

skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to improvements in bombs and has for its objectto provide a device of this character especially designed to be droppedfrom aeroplanes and equipped with means whereby the bomb may be explodedat any desired elevation above the ground.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bomb of thischaracter in which the firing pin which explodes the bomb is released bya cable or other flexible element connected at its end with the.aerolane or other object from which the, bomb is dropped, thuspermitting of an accurate estimate of the elevation at which the bombwill be ex loded after the altitude of the aeroplane as beenascertained.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forthin the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved bomb,

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the firing pin releasing mechanismremoved from the casing,

Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the releasing mechanism,

Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal sectional view therethrough,

Fig. 5 represents a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,and

Fig. 6 represents a perspectlve VleW of the safety device for preventingexplosion of .the bomb by accidental release of the firing pin.

Referring to the drawings in detail,-

wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts.throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates a preferred typeof bomb or projectile which is adapted to be discharged when exploded bya. percussion cap 7 having a base flange 8 confined between a pair ofplates 9 and 10 which are rigidly secured to therear terminal of thebomb 5.

The firing pin releasingmechanism designated generally by the numeral 11is pref-' erably housed within a casin 12 secured to the shell of thebomb 5, ass own in Fig. 1. 'The plates 9 and 10 are secured together tofirmly clamp the percussion cap 7 b bolts 13 which latter also support aguide p ate 14 in spaced parallel relation to the plates 9 and 10. Thepointed terminal of the firing pin 15 is slidably received within anaperture 16 formed in the guide plate 14 and the pointed terminal 17 ofthe firing pin is arranged in axial alinement with the percussion cap 7.

Relatively long spacing bolts 18 are secured at one end to the guideplate 14 and are connected at their opposite ends with a supportingplate 19 which is secured in predetermined spaced relation to the guideplate 14 by nuts 20 fitted upon the threaded terminals of the bolts 18.The upper terminal of the firing pin 15 is slidably engaged within anaperture 21 formed in the supporting plate 19 and is normally retainedin downwardly extended position by the tension of a sprin 22 confinedbetween the plate 19 and a was er 2% supported upon a pin 24 extendingdiametrically through the firing pin.

A lever 25 having a curved portion 26 forming a rocker or fulcrum issupported upon the plate 19 adjacent the firing pin 15 and is 27receiving the upper -portion of the firing pin and engaging under a head28 formed in the groove therewith, whereby when the rear portion of thelever 25 is pushed down wardly toward the guide plate 14, the firing pin15 is supported in elevated or inoperative position. The curved portionof the lever 25 'is loosely connected with the plate 19 by a bolt 26. 1

The outer terminal of the'lever 25 is recessed as indicated at 29 toreceive the bight portion of a substantially V-shaped retaining member30, the legs of which are extended through apertures 31 formed in theguide late 14. The extreme lower terminals o the legs of the retainingmember are directly angularly as indicated at 32 and anchored againstthe under side of the guide plate 14 so as to support the lever 25 inthe 110 provided with a bifurcated terminal osition shown in F 4. Theapertures 31 I 1n the guide plate 14 are amply large to perand theimperforate body portion of the plate overlies the opening 36 in theplate 10 whereb the pointed terminal of the firing pin 15 is preventedfrom engaging the percussion cap 7 when the lever 25 is accidentallreleased.

rom the foregoing, it is clearly evident that in use, the desired lengthof cable 34 is let out and as the bomb descends through the air thecable 34 is drawn taut thus exerting a pull upon the retaining member30, disengaging the bight portion thereof from the recessed terminal 29of the lever 25 and thus permitting the firing pin 15 to move againstthe percussion cap under the influence of the spring 22. the bomb, theuard member 35 illustrated in detail in F 1g. 6 is preferably insertedbetween the plates 10 and 14 and will effectively prevent discharge ofthe percussion cap 7 by accidental release of the firing pin 15 andlever 25.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a bomb, a percussion cap therefor,means to support said percussion cap, a pair of spaced parallel platesdisposed adjacent said percussion cap and havmg openings in alinementtherewith, a spring actuated firing pin slidably mounted For safety intransporting in said openings, a firing pin lever fulvcrumed on one ofsaid plates, and a V- ing its forward end portion thereof bifurcated andada ted for engagement with said firing pin, an a releasing elementconnected with said lever and having engagement with one of said plates.

3. In combination, a bomb, a-percussion cap therefor, a pair of coactingplates, means to support said plates in superim osed relation, meanscarried by one of sai plates for supporting said percussion cap, saidplates having alinln'g openings therein, a spring actuated firing pinextending through the openings of said plates and adapted for engagingsaid percussion cap, a lever fulcrumed to one of said plates and havingits forward end portion thereof bifurcated for engaging the rear endportion of said firing pin, and a V-shaped releasing member engaged atits bight portion with the rear end portion of said lever and having itsouter portion thereof extending angularly and engaging one of saidplates.

In testimony whereof I' afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. KEMML. Witnesses E. L. GONZALES, EDUARDO BLANCO.

